By Compiled from Times wires
Published July 29, 2003
CINCINNATI - During the campaign for a sales tax to build a new downtown ballpark, general manager Jim Bowden made a promise to Reds fans.
"Build it," he said, "and we will win."
They built it. The Reds didn't win.
And Monday one of baseball's most visible general managers was gone.
The Reds fired Bowden, manager Bob Boone and two coaches shortly before a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Phillies. They plan to wait until after the World Series to hire replacements.
Bench coach Ray Knight took over for Monday's game and will be third-base and hitting coach for the rest of the season. Tampa resident Dave Miley, the Reds' Triple-A manager since 1996, will be interim manager until the next general manager picks one.
Bowden had been general manager since the 1992 season, the second-longest tenure in the majors, and was the figure who brought Ken Griffey home and guided the Reds through a decade of owner Marge Schott's missteps.
But the Reds reached the playoffs once during his 11 years, Griffey kept getting hurt and the team was having its most disappointing season yet when Bowden was fired.
"Certainly there were high expectations for this season," chief operating officer John Allen said. "I'm not saying we necessarily expected to go to the World Series, but we certainly didn't expect to be sitting 101/2 games out and significantly under .500 at this point in the season."
The Reds expected to contend with a $57-million payroll, 17th in the majors, as they opened their first season at Great American Ball Park. Two major injuries to Griffey, poor defense and the collapse of a low-budget rotation prompted changes.
Third baseman Aaron Boone, the manager's son, was making toast in the clubhouse lounge when his father told him the news.
"There are tons of emotions that run through you," Aaron Boone said. "There's a little relief. I don't think it's been the best situation for him. I don't think he's been treated the best. Everything always has been his fault, which comes with the territory. The problems have run a lot deeper for the last couple of years."
ROYALS GET RELIEVER: Kansas City got some bullpen help by acquiring left-hander Graeme Lloyd from the Mets for minor-league right-hander Jeremy Hill. Lloyd, 35, was 1-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 36 appearances for New York this season.
MARLINS: First baseman Derrek Lee left in the eighth inning after partially dislocating a joint in his right shoulder.
PIRATES: Right-hander Kris Benson went on the 15-day disabled list a week after he took himself out of the rotation because his pitching shoulder was bothering him. The team doesn't think Benson needs an operation, and recent tests came up negative. He plans to seek opinions from James Andrews, who performed reconstructive surgery on him in 2001, and Craig Morgan, who operated on Arizona right-hander Curt Schilling's shoulder.
RED SOX: Left-hander Casey Fossum, the longtime subject of trade talks, was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to get more work. Fossum was discussed in a potential deal for Montreal's Bartolo Colon last offseason, but Boston refused to include him with third baseman Shea Hillenbrand.
YANKEES: Owner George Steinbrenner was bothered enough after his team lost two straight games against the Red Sox to issue a statement about the series. "We didn't play well in Boston, but I'm not getting down on anyone," Steinbrenner said. "It's a long season and a long way to go. They haven't won anything yet."
